BEDMINSTER — Just days after the Bridgwater council voted down a measure to merge its court operations with those of nearby Somerville borough, Bedminster Township and Bernardsville officials have announced that they are in preliminary talks to study a court merger between their towns, the Bernardsville News reported.

Steven Parker, a Bedminster committee member, announced the possible court merger at Monday's committee meeting, and said he had discussed it informally with a Bernardsville counterpart, the News reported.

Lee Honecker, Bernardsville mayor, said any such merger would need to be approved by the state Administrative Office of the Courts, which could take months, the News reported.